Two small towns in two different countries…
I will be truly surprised if anyone else, in the history of blogs, does a photo comparison of
Vilcabamba, Ecuador and Fredericktown, Ohio, U.S.A.
So here it is…
A Welcoming…
Who doesn’t love the gates to the town of Vilcabamba, Ecuador? A spiral staircase leads you up to the lookout balcony. Spectacular mountains surround the valley and one of numerous volleyball courts lays down below. Here is where you find the local Vilcabamba men playing their hearts out.
On a snowy Christmas day in 2010, I snapped a photo of one of the many Rotary Club banners on random poles in Fredericktown, Ohio, U.S.A. Each banner is adorned with a flying American flag signifying the epitome of quaint and small town U.S.A.
On the road…
Long stretches of winding roads slither across Ecuador’s mountains and valleys. Many of the adobe homes look unfinished and unpainted. Instead, it’s the donkeys, horses, dogs, and chickens adorn the homesteads.
It seems no matter where you go you find the same old telephone poles running through your photos. The rolling hills were a picturesque setting for the light snow and a perfect drive for a Christmas morning in Ohio.
A horse…
Here’s one of the cowboy horses we rode through the mountains. Their ability to walk and balance on steep cliffs and loose rocks was truly remarkable.
Not quite sure how the horsies in Ohio manage through the frigid winter… I can say that the Ohio horse looked a little woolier than the Ecuadorian horse.
A home…
This is a common little house in the village famous for the longevity of its inhabitants. Many are said to make it to 120 years old! The elderly are celebrities and are often photographed and admired. A old man snoozes standing up at his front door.
Here is a typical scene of a Ohio country home. Every big, red barn in the white snow was a photo opp for me. I was just as enchanted with the snowy Ohio hills as I was with the Ecuadorian village.
A tree…
Abundant banana trees cover the valley of Vilcabamba, Ecuador–a giant welcomed weed of sorts. Naturally, banana dishes of every imaginable kind are on every Ecuadorian’s table.
A lone Christmas tree sits in a snowy landscape luckily avoiding neighboring Christmas tree farms and destined to stay put for a long time.
A farm animal…
A donkey, the burro, is the beast of burden with the funny honking sounds you hear in the dead of night. They can be ridden like a slow horse and hold some firewood too–in stylish fashion saddlebags.
Here is an amazing photo of a miniature cow on a giant bale of hay. Next to her is the coveted red barn in the white snow.
A river…
John builds a dam in the Vilcabamba river to create a deeper pool of water to lay in and chill out.
Too chilled out in Ohio, John does not give a damn about getting in this river. Hardy har har.
Homes in the valley…
Which is prettier? I cannot say…
Where would I rather stay? Vilcabamba. Hands down.
I’ll take a year long growing season anytime! However, Ohio makes a great visit for the holidays!
Living in nature…
This restaurant and hostel in Vilcabamba (called Izcayluma) has the most spectacular view of the valley.
The Brookdale farm has another irresistible red barn in the snow.
Industry…
Sorry, Ecuador, but we thought your Pilsener was “no bueno”. Fortunately we found a Peruvian beer (Cusquena) in nearby Loja that was quite a treat.
This old mill is an interesting center point of Fredericktown, Ohio and looks like an extremely cold building to be in at the moment.
Some barns…
This photo comparison was unplanned. It was such a blast driving though the Fredericktown area during Christmas and photographing old barns and winter wonderlands. I really wanted to add them to this blog and make them relevant to the previous travels. I was pleased that in my photo collections I could generally find some Ecuadorian counterparts to the snowy Ohio landscapes.
Here are a few random barn shots that I liked and thought I would share. Thanks for checking out this uncommon comparison of two very different cultures. I enjoyed the beauty in both and hope you do too!
A Map of Vilcabamba, Ecuador
A Map of Fredericktown, Ohio, U.S.A.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Having grown up in Ohio (not Fredericktown) and visited Vilcabamba, I can relate to this comparison. Great job of capturing their essence…missing you.
Missing you too, Sweet Amrita! I’m glad to find someone who gets this post! The best part of traveling is meeting inspiring people like you. Happy New Years!